Collapsible concentric ring luminaire



Nqv. 20, 1956 w. LIPSCOMB 2,771,544

COLLAPSIBLE CONCENTRIC RING LUMINAIRE Filed Sept. 8. 1953 Fig.2 34 20' a4 a2 3 4 e 2e 2 60 58 Fig 6 INVENTOR.

WILLIS L. LIPSCOMB Knox &

AGENTS "I AWLIGANT United States Patent COLLAPSIBLE CONCENTRIC RING LUMINAIRE Willis L. Lipscomb, San Diego, Calif.

Application September 8, 1953, Serial No. 378,799

3 Claims. (Cl. 240-78) The present invention relates generally to lighting fixtures and more particularly to a collapsible concentric ring luminaire.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a luminaire having a plurality of concentric rings which are suspended by flexible means so that the fixture is collapsible when fully assembled into a space within the confines of the outer ring.

Another object, ancillary to the preceding object is to provide a fixture which is more economically and easily transported and stored.

Still another object is to provide a fixture which is not easily damaged during transportation and assembly because only the outside ring is exposed until such time as the lamp is actually placed in use and also because the rings are not rigidly secured together by metal straps. This last mentioned feature is particularly important because a very considerable percentage of fixtures employing such rigid strap connectors have heretofore been bent out of shape during transportation and installation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a luminaire which is particularly suitable for use with silvered bowl type lamps.

Another object of this invention is to provide a luminaire in which the concentric rings may be constructed in a variety of shapes and may be suspended in several ways to accomplish the same purpose.

Another object of this invention is to provide a luminaire which is adapted for fabrication from many different materials, so that the choice of material can be according to the dictates of availability and price considerations, the exact sizes and proportions being matters easily determined to suit particular conditions and needs.

Another object of this invention is to privide a luminaire which is inexpensive and practicable to manufacture.

Finally, it is an object to provide a luminaire of the aforementioned character which is safe to use, and which will give generally efficient and durable service.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification, particularly pointed out in the claims andillustrated in the drawing which forms a material part of this disclosure and wherein similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the views of the drawing, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a partially sectioned side elevation view of the luminaire.

Fig. 2 is a reduced, partially sectioned side elevation view of the luminaire in the collapsed position.

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views similar to the sectioned portion of Fig. 1, showing alternative methods of suspending the rings.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view, partially cut away, showing a preferred means for retaining the ends of the flexible suspension means.

Fig. 6 is a partially sectioned side elevation view showing a'luminaire having a modified ring structure wherein there is provided means for wider angle light distribution and means for preventing distortion of the rings by the independently acting suspension elements.

Figs. 7 and 8 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views of further alternative ring structure designed for providing an increased upward lighting component along with increased rigidity in the rings.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation view of the connector element shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6.

Fig. 10 is an end elevation view of the connector element shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a side elevation view of the connector element shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the connector element shown in Fig. 11.

Referring now to the drawing, the luminaire comprises a lamp holder 10 in which is fitted a lamp 12, a silvered bowl type lamp being shown, said lamp holder having a stem hanger 14 for suspension from a ceiling or other suitable structure. Surrounding the lamp 12 are the concentric rings, which include an outer ring 16, an intermediate ring 18 and an inner ring 20, each ring being illustrated as positioned slightly lower than the preceding larger ring, although the invention is not limited to such relative positioning, it being conceived that the rings may be at one height or the outer rings may be lower.

The outer ring 16 is suspended from the lamp holder 10 by means of flexible linear elements of high tensile strength. These linear elements may be chains as illustrated at 22, or they may be other linear elements such as wire sections terminally connected together so that the flexibility is largely limited to the points of juncture of the wires while allowing adjacent sections to slide over each other or telescope when the fixture is collapsed. Of course, other types of chains may be used. However, the illustrated chains have been demonstrated to be fully satisfactory and these chains 22 pass through apertures 24 adjacent the upper edge of said outer ring. The chains 22 are of the ball and link type, the apertures 24 being large enough to permit the passage of the individual balls 26. The chains 22 are secured to the outer ring 16 by attaching split ball covers 28 over the balls 26 on each side of the ring, a typical arrangement being shown in Fig. 5. The ball covers 28 are, of course, too large to pass through the apertures 24. The upper ends of the chains 22 are retained in keyhole slots 30 in the lamp holder canopy 10, which is of conventional construction.

The intermediate ring 18 and the inner ring 20 are suspended on flexible chains 32 and 34 respectively, said chains being fastened at common points to the chains 22 by means of suitable connector elements 36, several types of which are available for use with these particular chains. The novel and preferred connector element 36 is illustrated in detail in Figs. 9 and 10 and will be described more specifically hereinafter. The rings 18 and 20 are provided with apertures 24, the chains 32 and 34 being secured thereto in a manner similar to that described above.

Adjacent the lamp holder canopy 10 and surrounding the neck of the lamp 12 is a frusto-conical shield ring 38, which deflects the heated air rising from the lamp and prevents overheating of the lamp base and lamp holder. This shield ring 38 has a plurality of apertures 40 through which the chains 22 pass, thus supporting said shield ring. 7

in order to collapse the luminaire, the chains- 22 are disengaged from the keyhole slots 30, after which the rings may be collapsed completely within the confines of the outer rings 16 as illustrated in Fig. 2.

An alternative means for suspending the rings is shown in Fig. 3, the arrangement being basically similar to that shown in Fig. 1. The outer ring 16 is suspended from the lamp holder canopy 10 by means of flexible chains 42, the intermediate ring 18 and the inner ring 20 being suspended from the chains 42 by means of chains 44 and 46 respectively. In this case, however, the chains 44 and 46 are attached at spaced points on the chains 42 by means of individual connector elements 48. The novel connector elements 48 are illustrated more fully in Figs. 11 and 12 and are described later in this disclosure.

Yet another arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 4, in which the rings 16, 18 and 20 are suspended on flexible chains 50, 52 and 54 respectively. The chains converge toward the lamp holder canopy and connect directly to common connector elements 56 and one of the chains is continued through a conventionally provided keyhole slot in the lamp holder canopy as previously described. Two of the chains 50, 52 and 54 may be brazed or otherwise secured tothe connector element 56 or this element 56 may take the form of the connector element 36. In this particular instance the shield ring 38 has been omitted for simplicity of structure.

The shape of the concentric rings is by no means limited to the simple vertical wall type shown in Figs. 1 to 4, but may be varied'to suit particular requirements. For instance, the outer ring 58, the intermediate ring 61 and the inner ring 62 illustrated in Fig. 6 are substantially arcuate in cross section, a feature which provides a desirable increase in rigidity when using certain materials to construct the rings.

The suspension arrangement and the remainder of the structure are similar to that shown in Fig. 1. The rings may be constructed of metal with a reinforcing bead 63 as indicated in Figs. 14, or the rings may be constructed of plastics. In all cases the rings should have means for increasing rigidity and resistance to deformation as further illustrated in Fig. 7, the ring 64 having a sloping wall 66 and a reinforcing bead 6%.around its upper edge. Yet another form is illustrated in Fig. 8 in which the ring 70 has a sloping wall '72 which is provided with a flange 74 around the upper edge thereof. The means for attaching the flexible suspension chains to the rings is common to all the various structures. Although the connector elements 36 may be of any suitable type, a preferred novel form is. shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The element comprises a folded resilient clip, the folded end 78 having opposed areuate indentations 80 shaped to receive one of the balls 26. The lower end of the clip '76 is widened to provide a pair of lugs 82, each of which has further indentations 84 similar to the indentations 80. Thus the indentations 80 engage one of the balls 26 on the chain 22', while the indentations 34 hold the balls 26 at the ends of the chains 32 and 34, the resiliency of the clip 76 being sufiicient to ensure a firm connection.

A particular form of the connector element 48 is shown in Figs. 11 and 12, said element being similar to the connector used on a conventional key chain. The element comprises a split barrel having an opening 83 at its lower end through which one of the chains extends, the end ball of that chain being retained within the barrel. The slot 90 is sufficiently wide to allow the balls to be inserted therein. The upper end of the element 86 has a diametrical slot 92 so that the chain 42 as shown in Fig. 3 can extend from both sides thereof. This slot 92 is substantially the only addition necessary to a conventional key chain connector to produce one of the elements 48.

It will be evident that all the structures described herein may be collapsed within the confines of the outer ring, which is the primary feature of this invention.

Certain types of luminaires in present use feature concentric rings positioned as shown in Fig. 1. However, in these luminaires, the rings are interconnected by rigid members and are not collapsible. It has been found, that luminaires constructed in this manner are easily damaged .or distorted during installation or while in storage and are diflicult to re-align with any degree of accuracy. The luminaire described herein is not susceptible to damage by minor blows during installation, such blows being absorbed by the flexible suspension. During storage, the entire assembly is collapsed and may be packed in a container only slightly larger than the outer ring. Thus all pressures on the container are borne by the rings collectively, rather than by the interconnecting members as is the case with rigidly spaced rings.

in case ofv accidental damage to one of the rings, the damaged ring is easily replaced by detaching the flexible chains connected thereto. This operation is not possible with rigidly constructed luminaires without destroying their basic structure, the interconnecting members usually being riveted or welded in place.

The use of the silvered bowl lamp with this type of luminaire provides efficient semi-indirect lighting. The arrangement of the concentric rings permits changing the lamp without dismantling the fixture, prevents. the collection of dust due to the generally upright position of the ring walls, and is pleasing in appearance. The structure is suited to a variety of materials such as light gauge metals and certain plastics.

The operation of this invention will be clearly comprehendedfrom a consideration of the foregoing description of the mechanical details thereof, taken in connection with the drawing and the above recited objects. It will be obvious that all said. objects are amply achieved by this invention.

Further description would appear to be unnecessary.

it is understood that minor variations from the form of the invention disclosed herein may be made without departure from'the'spirit and scope of the invention, and that the specification and drawing are to be considered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim:

2. In a luminaire comprising a-hanger-supported member, a plurality of horizontally spaced light-shielding rings concentric with said member and a plurality of sets of flexible. linear elements suspending said rings from said: member, each linear element of each set being secured to only one ring, said elements being removable from said member, and removable retainer elements securing said linear elements to said rings, said rings being collapsible within the confines of the largest ring.

2. I-naluminaire comprising a hanger-supported member,'a plurality of horizontally spaced light-shielding rings concentric with said member and a plurality of sets of flexible linear elements suspending said rings from said member, each linear element of each set being secured to only one ring, a shield ring supported by said elements adjacent said member, said elements being removable from said member, and removable retainer elements securing said linearelements to said rings, said rings being collapsiblewithin the confines of the largest ring.

3. A luminaire comprising a lamp holder canopy, a pluralityof horizontally spaced light-shielding rings concentric with said lamp, said rings including an outer ring,v at least one intermediate ring and an inner ring, a plurality of flexible linear elements terminally secured to said outer ring and lamp holder canopy and suspending said outer ring from said lamp holder canopy, further flexible linear elements suspending said intermediate and said inner rings from said first mentioned elements, and removable connector elements interconnecting the last mentioned linear elements with the corresponding first mentioned-linear elements, saidinner and intermediate rings being shiftableinto the space defined by the outer ring while all said linear elements are connected to the rings.

References Cited in'the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,193,191 Ritter Aug. 1, 1916 2,087,750 Bookman July 20, 1937 2,303,747 Kuhl Dec. 1, 1942 2,435,715 Headings Feb. 10, 1948 2,625,648 Z'enda Jan. 13, 1953 va s-w" 

